Ice chipper

ABSTRACT

There is provided an improved device for chipping ice for use in the sport of ice fishing or elsewhere. The device is comprised of a cutting member comprising two spikes defining a semi-rectangular inner area, and a handle attached to the cutting member. This configuration allows the user to create a hole for ice fishing quickly and easily while minimizing ice jamming within the device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The sport of ice fishing is popular in many countries, andparticularly in Canada. In order to facilitate the enjoyment of thesport, a number of devices have been proposed to enable the participantto quickly and effectively dig a hole in the ice.

[0002] U.S. Pat. No. 2,720,023, issued to Koscher et al. on Oct. 11,1955, discloses an ice spud composed of a head member equipped with anumber of blades, at least one of which is substantially at right anglesto the other blades. Canadian Patent 1,298,072 issued to Harrie et al.on Mar. 31, 1992, discloses a tool for making holes through ice havingseven (7) cutting edges in a particular configuration. Both of thesedevices are relatively complex in structure and, due to the differentangles of the blades, difficult to sharpen and maintain.

[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 4,862,591 issued to Barringer on Sep. 5, 1989,discloses a much simpler device, having a single V-shaped cutting edgeon a member at the end of a handle of appropriate length. The shape ofthe cutting edge, however, does not diminish the incidence of icejamming within the device, and therefore, the device would requirefrequent clearing, thereby reducing its overall effectiveness andcapacity to allow the user to quickly create the desired hole in theice.

[0004] Other devices have been proposed to dig holes or break up ice.U.S. Pat. No. 2,359,089 issued to Doran on Sep. 26, 1944, describes adevice for digging which may be attached to an air hammer or the like,and which is equipped with points which are tapered in both front andside elevation to prevent these points from sticking in the ground whiledigging. U.S. Pat. No. 281,644 issued to Rex on Jul. 17, 1883, describesa flat cutting device for cutting ice in a flat line without splittingit into fragments. U.S. Pat. No. 949,667 issued to Spalke on Feb. 15,1910, describes an ice pick in the form of a beveled wedge with apenetrating point. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 1,094,569 of issued to Hugheson Apr. 28, 1914 describes an ice pick mechanism which serves totranslate the force exerted on one end of the device to the tines whichenter the ice. The main aspect of the invention is the handle portion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide foran ice pick which is simple in design and yet quickly and effectivelycreates the desired hole in the ice to allow for ice fishing or thelike.

[0006] It is a further object of the invention to allow for the creationof the hole while minimizing the amount of ice jamming within thedevice, which jamming requires cleaning and a loss of momentum in thehole-digging process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] These and other advantages of the invention will become apparentupon reading the following detailed description and upon referring tothe drawings in which:

[0008]FIG. 1 is a front view of the pick

[0009]FIG. 2 is a side view of the pick

[0010]FIG. 3 is a front view of the shaft

[0011]FIG. 4 is a front view of the handle

[0012] While the invention will be described in conjunction withillustrated embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intendedto limit the invention to such embodiments. On the contrary, it isintended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as maybe included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined bythe appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] In the following description, similar features in the drawingshave been given similar reference numerals.

[0014] Turning to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an ice chipper 2having a cutting member 4 and a handle 6. Said cuffing member iscomprised of a body portion 10 which has a top 12 and a bottom 14 edge,and first and second cuffing spikes 16 a and 16 b. The body portion issloped at an angle of 15° to 20° from the wider top edge 12 to thenarrower bottom edge 14, and preferably is sloped at an angle of 18°.Each of the first and second spikes 16 a, 16 b, terminates in a cuttingpoint 24. The cutting spikes 16 a, 16 b, each have an outer edge 20 andan inner edge 25. The outer edge 20 has first 21 and second 22 portions.The second portion 22 commences approximately at the point where thespikes 16 a, 16 b, pass the bottom edge 14 of the body portion 10. Thesecond portion 22 preferably possesses a slope of approximately 30° fromthe point 23 where it meets the first portion 21, to the cutting point24. The inner edges 25 are substantially straight and form angles ofsubstantially 90° at the points 26 where they meet with the bottom 14 ofthe body portion 10, thereby defining a semi-rectangular cavity 40between the two cutting spikes 16 a, 16 b.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the ends 27 of the inner edges 25 ofthe cutting spikes 16 a, 16 b, are sloped at an angle of about 7°towards the cutting points 24.

[0016] The handle 6 of the ice chipper 2 is fixedly attached to thecutting member 4 at the top edge 12 of the body portion 10. The handle6, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, is comprised of a shank portion 30 and agrip portion 32. The handle 6 may be further equipped with a hole 34 insaid shank portion 30 or said grip portion 32 through which a rope (notshown) may be attached to ensure that the ice chipper does not fall intothe water when in use.

[0017] In use, the ice chipper 2 is pushed into the ice at its cuttingpoints 24 by exerting a force on the handle 6. Force may also be exertedon the top 10 of the body portion, by the user. The ice chipper 2 isthen removed from the ice by exerting an opposite pulling force on theice chipper 2. This operation may be repeated any number of times untilthe desired hole is formed in the ice. Due to the shape of thesemi-rectangular cavity 40 between the spike portions, the incidence ofice jamming is minimized and therefore the ice chipping operation isquickly and efficiently accomplished.

[0018] Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided in accordancewith the invention an ice chipper that fully satisfies the objects, aimsand advantages set forth above. While the invention has been describedin conjunction with illustrated embodiments thereof, it is evident thatmany alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent tothose skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description.Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives,modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scopeof the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A device for chippingice comprising: a body portion, said body portion having upper and loweredges and a plurality of downwardly extending spikes defining asemi-rectangular cavity, each of said spikes possessing an inner and anouter lateral edge and terminating in a generally “v-shaped” cuttingedge.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said outer lateral edges of eachof said spikes possess a slope of about 200 to about 40° degrees fromsaid body portion towards said cutting edges.
 3. The device of claim 1wherein said outer lateral edges of each of said spikes possess a slopeof about 30° degrees from said body portion towards said cutting edges.4. The device of claim 1 wherein said body portion possesses a slope ofabout 15° to about 20° from said upper edge to said lower edge.
 5. Thedevice of claim 1 wherein said body portion possesses a slope of about18° from said upper edge to said lower edge.
 6. The device of claim 1wherein said inner lateral edges of said spikes meet said lower edge ofsaid body portion at an angle of substantially 90°.
 7. The device ofclaim 6 wherein said inner lateral edges of said spikes possess a slopeof about 7° commencing at a point proximate to said cutting edges andterminating at said cutting edges.
 8. The device of claim 1 wherein saidbody portion has two (2) downwardly extending spikes.
 9. The device ofclaim 1 and further comprising a handle fixedly attached to said bodyportion.
 10. The device of claim 9 and further comprising a transversebore at an end of the handle opposite the point of attachment to saidbody portion to facilitate attachment of a rope thereto.
 11. A devicefor chipping ice comprising: a body portion, said body portion havingupper and lower edges, and being sloped at about 18° from said upperedge to said lower edge; a plurality of downwardly extending spikesdefining a semi-rectangular cavity, each of said spikes possessing aninner and an outer lateral edge and terminating in a generally“v-shaped” cutting edge, said outer lateral edges of each of said spikespossessing a slope of about 30° from said body portion towards saidcutting edges, said inner lateral edges forming an angle of about 90° ata point where said inner lateral edges meet said bottom edge of saidbody portion, said inner lateral edges being substantially straight, butpossessing a slope of about 7° from a point proximate to said cuttingedges and terminating at said cutting edges; a handle fixedly attachedto said body portion; and a transverse bore at an end of the handleopposite the point of attachment to said body portion to facilitateattachment of a rope thereto.